Dogging mechanism for emergency exit lock



" Sept; 1970 w.- o. BALDUCCI 3,530,695

DOGGING MECHANISM FOR EMERGENCY EXIT LOCK Filed July 22, 1968 I [la 1/ ,4 a? V 1% W W z a a 5/ I INVENTOR. (J WALTER, O. BALDUCCI ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office Patented Sept. 29, 1970 3,530,695 DOGGING MECHANISM FOR EMERGENCY EXIT LOCK Walter O. Balducci, New Britain, Conn., assignor to Emhart Corporation, Bloomfield, Conu., a corporation of Connecticut Filed July 22, 1968, Ser. No. 746,610 Int. Cl. E!) 65/10; E05c 19/00 US. C]. 70-92 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An emergency exit lock having a case including opposing wall portions providing a clevis for a latch bolt actuating lever. A dogging mechanism carried by the lever includes two telescopically co-engaging parts movable relative to the lever and in opposite directions relative to each other between dogged and undogged positions. In the dogged position each of the parts engages an associated one of the wall portions to retain the lever in a fixed position relative to the case. When the lever is in a position corresponding to a retracted position of the latch bolt the mechanism is accessible for manual manipulation externally of the case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to emergency exit locks and deals more particularly with an improved dogging mechanism therefor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an emergency exit lock is provided which has a case structure supporting an operating member for moving an associated latch bolt to a retracted position. The case includes opposing wall portions between which a portion of the operating member is disposed when the latch bolt is in its retracted position. A dogging mechanism carried by the operating member includes two co-engaging parts movable relative to the member and in opposite directions relative to each other between dogged and undogged positions. In the dogged position each of the parts engages an associated wall portion to retain the operating member in a fixed position relative to the case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the emergency exit lock embodying the present invention and shows a key for manipulating dogging mechanism therein.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the lock of FIG. 1, a portion of the case being broken away to reveal mechanism therein.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view generally similar to FIG. 3 but shows another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a portion of an emergency exit fixture embodying the invention is indicated generally at 10. The fixture is of a conventional type and includes an active case indicated generally at 12 and an inactive case (not shown) respectively fastened near opposite edges of an outwardly opening door 14. The active case 12 carries a latch bolt 16 for engaging a strike (not shown) and an operating memher or actuating lever 18 for moving the latch bolt to retracted position out of engagement 'with the strike. Connection between the active and inactive case is provided by a horizontal cross bar 20 fastened at one end to the actuating lever 18 and at its other end to a similar lever of opposite hand supported by the inactive case. Slight pressure on the cross bar in the direction of the door is eifective to retract the latch bolt 16 and thereby release the door to permit immediate egress.

In accordance with the invention, the fixture 10 also includes a dogging mechanism indicated generally at 22 and best shown in FIG. 3 for releasably retaining the lever 18 in a fixed position relative to the case 12 corresponding to a retracted position of the latch bolt 16. When the lever 18 is in the latter position, the mechanism 22 is accessible for manual manipulation externally of the case, a tool or socket wrench such as indicated at 24 being provided for this purpose. In the description which follows, the dogging mechanism is described with particular reference to the active case 12, however, it should be understood that this mechanism may also be associated with the inactive case and such arrangement is contemplated within the scope of the invention.

The case 12 comprises a relatively narrow vertically elongated hollow shell. Preferably it is made in two parts and includes a base 26 and a detachable cover 28. The base has a rear wall 30 and side walls 32 and 34 which project forwardly from the rear wall and terminate in a forwardly facing peripheral edge 36.

The cover 28 engages the base along the peripheral edge 36 and has a front Wall with a generally vertically disposed slot 40 therethrough and opposing side walls 42 and 44. Each side wall includes an integral ear 46 which extends rearwardly into the base 26 adjacent a respectively associated one of the base side walls 32 and 34 to form a clevis 48 for supporting the actuating lever 18. Spaced forwardly from the ears 46, 46 there is a cylindrical opening 50 extending through the side wall 44 in coaxial alignment with a cylindrical recess 52 in the inner surface of the side wall 42.

The actuating lever 18 is supported for pivotal movement relative to the case 12 between an extended or broken line position and a depressed or full line position as indicated in FIG. 2, operative connection between the lever 18 and the latch bolt 16 being provided by a mechanism not shown. As is conventional in fixtures of this type, the latch bolt 16 is normally biased to a projected or broken line position as it appears in 'FIG. 1. The actuating lever 18 is operable upon movement to depressed position to move the latch bolt 16 to its retracted position, in which position it is substantially disposed within the case and out of engagement with the strike.

Considering the actuating lever 18 in somewhat further detail and referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lever extends into the case through the slot 40 and is supported at its inner end by a pivot pin 54 and an associated bushing 55. Flanged bushings 56, 56 received in the ears 46, 46 journal the ends of the pin 54 and prevent transverse movement of the lever in the clevis 48. Forwardly of the pivot pin 54 an opening 57 extends transversely through the lever 18 for receiving the dogging mechanism 22. The opening 57 is coaxially aligned with the opening 50 and the recess 52 when the lever is in its depressed position and has a uniform non-cir cular cross section which is substantially greater than the cross section of the opening 50. Preferably, and as shown, the cross section of the opening 57 is polygonal.

At the inner end of the lever below the pivot pin 54 there is formed a relatively wide radially downwardly opening notch 58 partially defined by radially extending abutment surfaces '60 and 62 shown in FIG. 2. A pin 64 carried by the ears 46, 46 extends transversely through 3 the notch 58 for engaging the abutment surfaces 60 and 62 to limit the arcuate travel of the lever 18 and thereby prevent it from engaging the upper and lower edges of the slot 40 with resulting damage to the cover 28, which is preferably made from material softer than the lever material.

The dogging mechanism comprises generally two coengaging parts which include a shroud or sleeve 66 and a screw 68 threaded into the sleeve. The sleeve 66 is slidably received in the opening 57 and has a polygonal cross section complementing the cross section of the opening so that the sleeve is restrained against rotation relative to the lever 18. A generally cylindrical stepped bore extends through the sleeve and includes an enlarged threaded portion 69, a reduced portion 70 and an annular shoulder 72 therebetween. Conical portions 74 and 76 at opposite ends of the sleeve bore diverge respectively toward the walls 42 and 44. An annular hearing surface 78 surrounds the conical portion 76. The screw 68 is threaded into the bore portion 69 and has a head presented toward the wall 44 and provided with a polygonal socket 80 for receiving the wrench 24. The other end of the screw 68 is preferably conical.

When the lever 18 is in its depressed position, the dogging mechanism 22 is coaxially aligned with the Opening 50 and is accessible for manual manipulation externally of the case. However, it should be noted that the mechanism 22 is inaccessible in all other positions of the lever 18 and cannot be manipulated to secure the lever in a position corresponding to a projected position of the latch bolt. To manipulate the mechanism 22, the wrench 24 is inserted into the case 12 through the opening 50, the conical portion 76 serving to guide the end of the wrench into alignment with socket 80 in the screw 68.

The sleeve 66 and the screw 68 are threadably movable relative to each other and to the lever 18 between a clogged and undogged position respectively indicated by full and broken lines in FIG. 3. As the screw 68 is threaded out of the sleeve or toward its dogged position, its conical end portion enters the recess 52 to center the dogging mechanism relative thereto so that the latch bolt 16 will be secured in a fully retracted position. Engagement of the screw 68 with the wall 42 urges the sleeve 66 toward the wall 44 to bring the bearing surface 76 into abutting engagement with the latter wall. Since the sleeve 66 is free to slide in the lever 18, the mechanism 22 does not exert transverse force or side thrust on the lever 18 as it is moved to its dogged position. When the screw 68 is retracted into the sleeve 66 or moved toward its undogged position, the head of the screw moves into abutting engagement with the shoulder 72. Thus, the screw cannot be retracted to a position of abutting engagement with the wall 44. Engagement of the screw with the shoulder 72 serves to lock the screw in retracted 1305111011180 that it will not tend to move toward its dogged position due to vibration or shock caused by repeated operation of the lever 18. In the undogged position the screw 68 is wholly disposed in the sleeve 66 so that the lever 18 is freely movable between its extended and depressed positions.

When the case or at least the cover part thereof is made from a relatively soft material, such as aluminum, it is generally desirable to provide a suitable bearing surface thereon for engaging the dogging mechanism to avoid excessive case ware and thereby prolong the life of the fixture. In FIG. another emergency exit fixture embodying the invention and indicated generally at a includes a cover 28a made from aluminum or like material. Other parts of the fixture 10a are substantially identical to corresponding parts of the fixture 10, bear the same reference numerals used in describing the previous embodiment with a suffix a, and will not be hereinafter further described. The cover 28a has a wall 42a provided with the recess 52a for receiving the conical end portion of the dogging screw 68. An insert bushing or anvil 82 received in the recess 52a prevents excessive cover ware. The insert 82 is made from a material substantially harder than the material from which the cover 28a is made and has a bearing surface 84 for engaging the conical end portion of the screw 68a as the latter screw is threaded toward its dogged position.

The drawings show preferred embodiments of the invention and such embodiments have been described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the constructions disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an emergency exit lock the combination comprising a case including opposing wall portions, an operating member supported for movement between first and second positions relative to said case and operable upon movement to said second position to move a latch bolt to a retracted position, said member in said second position having a portion thereof disposed between said wall portions, and a dogging mechanism including two coengaging parts carried by said operating member and movable relative thereto, said parts being movable in generally opposite directions relative to each other between dogged and undogged positions, said mechanism in said dogged position engaging said wall portions to retain said member in a fixed position relative to said case.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said parts is a sleeve slidably received in said member and the other of said parts is telescopically received in said sleeve.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sleeve is restrained against rotation relative to said member and said other part is a screw threadably engaging said sleeve.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said screw includes a nose presented toward one of said wall portions and a head presented toward the other of said wall portions in said second position, said one wall portion having a recess therein in registry with and adapted to receive said nose in said second position of said operating member, said other wall portion having an opening therethrough in registry with said head in said second position for access to said head externally of said case.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sleeve has a generally cylindrical bore therethrough including an enlarged portion, a reduced portion and an annular shoulder therebetween, said screw being threadably received in said enlarged portion.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including an anvil of material substantially harder than the material of said case associated with one of said wall portions and having a bearing surface, said mechanism engaging said bearing surface in said dogged position.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dogging mechanism is accessible for manual manipulation externally of said case between said dogged and undogged positions only when said operating member is in said second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,836,451 5/1958 Clifton 7092 X 2,910,857 11/1959 M'uessel 7092 2,945,372 11/1960 Reed 70-92 3,148,903 9/1964 Foster 292-1 MARVI N A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner E. I. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 2921 

